Cane Ashby’s return to Genoa City is full of surprises—will Billy Flynn’s rebranding of the character live up to fans’ expectations?
Fans of The Young and the Restless were in for a shocking twist when Billy Flynn debuted as the enigmatic Aristotle Dumas on June 19. In the next episode, he revealed that Dumas was actually Cane Ashby, the role formerly played by Daniel Goddard.
Flynn recently opened up about stepping into this iconic character and his approach to making it his own in an interview with TV Insider.
A New Take on Cane Ashby
Billy Flynn admitted that when he first met with Y&R’s head writer and executive producer, Josh Griffith, he had no idea he’d be taking over the role of Cane. Once he learned of the opportunity, Flynn immersed himself in the character’s past, watching old episodes and studying Cane’s history, particularly his complicated relationship with Lily (Christel Khalil).
Flynn acknowledged the challenge of portraying a character originally played by Goddard, noting that while the Australian accent and age gap would be different, he was determined to bring something fresh to the role.
“We’re going to rebrand it a bit,” Flynn shared, emphasizing that his version of Cane would be his own unique take.
The Connection with Lily
Despite the differences in Flynn’s portrayal, the connection with Lily remains central to Cane’s storyline. Flynn reflected on how the chemistry between him and Khalil was immediately palpable during their first scene together.
“There was a chemistry that I was like, ‘Okay, it’s gonna be good,'” Flynn said.
He also expressed confidence that viewers would recognize the bond between Cane and Lily as the heart of their dynamic, despite the changes in the characters’ backgrounds and personalities.
“Lily is Cane’s one true love,” he declared. “I know how to do that.”
Flynn’s Experience as a Recast
Having previously stepped into the role of Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives, Flynn has plenty of experience with recasting. However, he made it clear that his version of Cane will stand on its own.
While Flynn respects what Goddard brought to the role, he is excited to make the character his own and promised that fans would still recognize the essence of Cane through his connections with the other characters.
As Cane’s return to Genoa City heats up, Flynn’s portrayal promises to shake things up in unexpected ways. Fans are eager to see how he navigates his reimagined role in the coming weeks.
